Theres not a better feeling than starting a new job. Expectations are high, motivation is endless and the feeling of accomplishment, even if you haven't started, is through the roof. Nevertheless, landing the new job is just the beginning of a journey that can have many outcomes, some of which depend entirely of you and your actions. You have already rolled the dice, now see what you can do with the hand you got.
A good friend of mine always used to say "control the controlable", meaning that for those actions that you have direct action on you should always be on top, working on them and making sure all the valves are closed and not leaking. After switching jobs, a lot of things happened to me, some are great and some are lessons. Among the lessons, I take the following 5 and share them with you. Remember they are only learned if they applied in the future.
1) Ask more before accepting the offer
This became my #1 lesson after watching Tom Cruise playing Barry Seal in "American Made", self-reflecting on his video camera after all went to hell in his new smuggling job which replaced his commercial pilot career. "I should have asked more", he said. The new proposal will sound interesting. The hiring manager may have sugar-coated all the needs, the vision and your future rol exactly as you wanted to hear. There may be external motivations that block your decision into "positive-only" thinking, obviating the negative aspects you may encounter at your new workplace.
Thats why it is extremely important to ask a lot. Ask to different people, friends, ex-employees and google. It takes great value if you arrange a few meetings with your future colleagues, your future team or human resources. Understand your structure, resources, why is there a vacancy in the first place and more. A key point is to understand the ambience and working culture, so part of your decision is taking accordingly. Theres an interesting video on youtube about Steve Job's hiring method and how you got involved in the team and projects before signing up. It is the most valuable exercise for both parties.
2) Don't make radical changes the first quarter
When you get to your new job, it is important to adapt first. There are internal powers, methods and politics (different than policies) that you need to understand first before going all-in. It is critical to detect how the strings are moved, which toes you might step into for your decisions, who are your allies and what tone you set in your communications (in meetings, through email, phone calls, how people reach you).
Also, for two reasons you should also take some time, maybe 3 to 6 months before bringing your people in. First because they have a life and your proposal (their decision) will affect it either positively or negative in the long run. Secondly, because you still don't know what you need. You might have an idea but still the momentum of projects is going from before you arrived, so you need set your momentum first, as I say in the following lesson.
3) Understand priority quick and cancel every other bullshit project
Starting your position will have many ongoing projects, and lots of upcoming projects on the road which need to be started and organized. Theres a balance that need to be found between freezing, cancelling and starting new projects, making sure you prioritize according to your real requirements. Ask this questions: why was I brought here? What do they want in 3 months? Find these answers and take the reins to stop everything. Remember the expectation they have of you, so fulfill it quickly.
The probabilities that your team is sailing in the direction they think is right but not the proper or best one are very high, so it is up to you to bring that direction from top management down to your team and reset the compass quickly. Being busy is different than being busy on the right things.
4) Change rather quickly failing elements
Yes, this goes against lesson 2. Nevertheless, the changes we refer to in lesson number 2 are positive ones, which means to build teams, organize resources towards your goals, rearrange roles, job descriptions, standardize salaries etc which should be done after the first quarter of your new job. In this order of ideas, the changes in this point are more about negative and failing elements that affect your demarche, adaptation and priority change that you have made, and by quick I mean after detection you should not hesitate to make changes. Get the support, start the process and execute.
5) Quickly Translate your Plan
Draw the roadmap so everybody can understand it. Your priority stablished in lesson 3 should be set in a couple of slides showing the big picture. This is your speech for top management, your team, providers and board of directos. Beyond structures, resources and status, you should understand how the big picture interconnects throughout the company, so that no matter who you meet with, you can always bring your plan and sell it to others.
There was a time that during a 2 week lapse that I needed to show my master plan to 3 different stakeholders (2 internals and 1 external). I only had it my mind. I postponed it too long drawing it on a couple of slides, and in these 3 critical meetings that happened on a short lapse, all I had were my ideas in my mind. Even though I understood the big picture and I knew where I needed to take my department, I couldn't sell it properly (like a proposal for time, money and people).
I take these lessons and meditate on them everyday until it heals, and until they are absorbed in my DNA for future references. For sure in my new job i'm implementing these to the line. Keep in mind that even if you implement these 5 lessons and your other ideas perfectly, you may end-up leaving your job because restructuring, because you got bored or because you got fired. The important thing is to feel accomplished and have your mind at peace with how you handled the different curve balls thrown at you.
Have you switched jobs and companies before? What have been your biggest experiences you can take from that change? Feel free to let me know in the comments so our readers can discuss together! Please feel free to comment below and share your experiences!
